A French court on Wednesday sentenced a Tunisian man to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal 2020 knife attack that left three people dead inside a church in the southern city of Nice.
Brahim Aouissaoui, 25, admitted to carrying out the attack earlier this week but claimed he did not remember the details of his actions.
The October 29, 2020, assault, which took place inside the Basilica of Notre-Dame in central Nice, was one of several deadly Islamist-linked incidents in France in recent years.
The attack occurred less than two weeks after history teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded by a Chechen refugee in a separate incident.
A Brutal Attack in a Place of Worship
Armed with a kitchen knife, Aouissaoui carried out a gruesome assault that prosecutors described as an act of terror.
He nearly decapitated 60-year-old worshipper Nadine Vincent, stabbed 44-year-old Franco-Brazilian mother Simone Barreto Silva around 25 times, and slit the throat of Vincent Loques, a 55-year-old church sacristan and father of two.
Following the attack, police intervened and shot Aouissaoui, leaving him seriously wounded. Since then, he has maintained that he has no recollection of the events.
However, medical examinations showed no signs of brain damage, and psychiatric assessments confirmed that his judgment was not impaired at the time of the attack.
Court Ruling and Justification
The court’s verdict aligns with the prosecution’s request for the maximum sentence allowed under French law—life imprisonment without parole.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Aouissaoui was deeply influenced by jihadist ideology, citing his radicalization since 2018.
“This was not a random act of violence, but a calculated and ideologically driven massacre,” one of the prosecutors stated.
In court, Aouissaoui made disturbing remarks, suggesting that the killings were “legitimate” retaliation against “the West” for harming Muslims.
At one point, he interrupted the proceedings by shouting, “It’s not terrorism,” prompting his own lawyer to urge him to remain silent.
A Radicalized Journey to France
Aouissaoui arrived in Europe just a month before the attack, initially crossing the Mediterranean from Tunisia to Italy before making his way to France overland.
On the morning of the attack, he entered the church carrying a copy of the Koran, three knives, and two mobile phones, according to the prosecution.
Born into a large family in Sfax, Tunisia, Aouissaoui previously worked as a motorcycle repairman. His mother described how he became increasingly devout in the years leading up to his departure for Europe.
However, prosecutors revealed that he had a history of consuming alcohol and smoking cannabis before embracing extremist beliefs in late 2018.
France’s Battle Against Islamist Extremism
Since 2015, France has faced a wave of Islamist attacks, with hundreds of lives lost in incidents targeting civilians, law enforcement, and religious figures.
The Nice church attack reinforced concerns over extremist threats, particularly from individuals who enter Europe through migration routes.
The verdict ensures that Aouissaoui will spend the rest of his life behind bars, reflecting the severity of his crimes and France’s determination to combat religious extremism within its borders.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
